Abstract: A vehicle door latch control device is provided in which power from an electric actuator controlled by a control unit is transmitted via transmission means to a ratchet that can engage with a latch that engages with a striker on a vehicle body side and pivots, wherein a first switch detects whether the ratchet is in a ratchet engagement position, a second switch detects that the transmission means has operated until the ratchet attains the ratchet engagement position based on an operating position of an operating member forming part of the transmission means, and the control unit that controls actuation of the electric actuator determines that there is an abnormal state when the switching mode of the first switch is unchanged at the time the second switch changes switching mode. This enables an abnormal state in which engagement of a ratchet with a latch becomes insufficient.

Abstract: A controller for energizing a vehicle door lock indicator is provided wherein in a power source OFF state, energization of in-vehicle equipment activated by energization is cut off, energization control means cuts off energization of electric display means, energization of which has started at the time of switching when lock state detection means has detected switching from the locked state to the unlocked state, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of the switching, and in a power source ON state, energization of the in-vehicle equipment is enabled, as long as the lock state detection means detects the unlocked state, the energization control means continues the energized state of the electric display means even after the predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, when a power source is in an ON state, an unlocked state is clearly displayed, and a door can be prevented from opening undesirably.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch controller is provided in which the operation of a latch release electric motor for driving a ratchet is controlled so as to pivot the ratchet from the ratchet engagement position to the ratchet release position in response to detecting a latch release intention of the vehicle driver in a fully-latched state, wherein a control unit actuates the latch release electric motor so as to pivot the ratchet to the ratchet engagement position after a predetermined time has elapsed since it has detected that the ratchet is at the ratchet release position and actuation of the latch release electric motor has been stopped after the latch release electric motor has started actuating so as to pivot the ratchet from the ratchet engagement position to the ratchet release position. Such controller prevents opening a door undesirably, even if releasing of a latched state is erroneously carried out.

Abstract: A vehicle door open/close operation apparatus is provided in which a design cover can be opened by a manual operation and can close at least part of an opening provided in a door, and a latch release is operated by a latch device due to the operation of an operating member in a state in which the design cover is open, wherein displacement of the design cover from a closed position toward an open position is detected by a detection switch, and a control unit carries out the user authentication in response to detection of displacement of the design cover by the detection switch. This enables the necessity for carrying out an operation of the operating member again to be avoided even if the operating member is operated quickly, thus enabling the door to be opened smoothly.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch control device is provided in which power from an electric actuator controlled by a control unit is transmitted via transmission means to a ratchet that can engage with a latch that engages with a striker on a vehicle body side and pivots, wherein a first switch detects whether the ratchet is in a ratchet engagement position, a second switch detects that the transmission means has operated until the ratchet attains the ratchet engagement position based on an operating position of an operating member forming part of the transmission means, and the control unit that controls actuation of the electric actuator determines that there is an abnormal state when the switching mode of the first switch is unchanged at the time the second switch changes switching mode. This enables an abnormal state in which engagement of a ratchet with a latch becomes insufficient.

Abstract: A vehicle door latch controller is provided in which the operation of a latch release electric motor for driving a ratchet is controlled so as to pivot the ratchet from the ratchet engagement position to the ratchet release position in response to detecting a latch release intention of the vehicle driver in a fully-latched state, wherein a control unit actuates the latch release electric motor so as to pivot the ratchet to the ratchet engagement position after a predetermined time has elapsed since it has detected that the ratchet is at the ratchet release position and actuation of the latch release electric motor has been stopped after the latch release electric motor has started actuating so as to pivot the ratchet from the ratchet engagement position to the ratchet release position. Such controller prevents opening a door undesirably, even if releasing of a latched state is erroneously carried out.

Abstract: A controller for energizing a vehicle door lock indicator is provided wherein in a power source OFF state, energization of in-vehicle equipment activated by energization is cut off, energization control means cuts off energization of electric display means, energization of which has started at the time of switching when lock state detection means has detected switching from the locked state to the unlocked state, when a predetermined time has elapsed from the time of the switching, and in a power source ON state, energization of the in-vehicle equipment is enabled, as long as the lock state detection means detects the unlocked state, the energization control means continues the energized state of the electric display means even after the predetermined time has elapsed. Thus, when a power source is in an ON state, an unlocked state is clearly displayed, and a door can be prevented from opening undesirably.

Abstract: A vehicle door open/close operation apparatus is provided in which a design cover can be opened by a manual operation and can close at least part of an opening provided in a door, and a latch release is operated by a latch device due to the operation of an operating member in a state in which the design cover is open, wherein displacement of the design cover from a closed position toward an open position is detected by a detection switch, and a control unit carries out the user authentication in response to detection of displacement of the design cover by the detection switch. This enables the necessity for carrying out an operation of the operating member again to be avoided even if the operating member is operated quickly, thus enabling the door to be opened smoothly.

Abstract: A smart key system according to the present invention controls operations of devices mounted in a vehicle based on wireless communication between a control device mounted in the vehicle and a portable electronic key, and the control device includes a transmission circuit configured to output a request signal a predetermined number of times at predetermined times within a predetermined period in order to confirm authentication communication between the control device and a communication unit of the portable electronic key, and a communication mode switching unit configured to switch an authentication communication interval or an authentication communication time within the predetermined period of the request signal output from the transmission circuit of the control device if the authentication communication is not performed for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: A smart key system according to the present invention controls operations of devices mounted in a vehicle based on wireless communication between a control device mounted in the vehicle and a portable electronic key, and the control device includes a transmission circuit configured to output a request signal a predetermined number of times at predetermined times within a predetermined period in order to confirm authentication communication between the control device and a communication unit of the portable electronic key, and a communication mode switching unit configured to switch an authentication communication interval or an authentication communication time within the predetermined period of the request signal output from the transmission circuit of the control device if the authentication communication is not performed for a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: Provided is an internal antenna device in such a form as a door handle for a smart entry system and an electronic key that can provide a metallic appearance similar to that of a metallic plating while avoiding a loss in the antenna output and ensuring a stable communication. A metallic thin film is deposited on a surface of an outer cover (9) that receives an antenna of the internal antenna device by sputtering. Cr (chromium) may be selected for the sputtering target, and the film thickness may be in the range of 0.05 ?m to 0.20 ?m to produce the appearance of a metallic surface. A double layer structure may be used by forming a coating consisting of acrylic urethane paint and having a thickness of 5 ?m to 50 ?m on the metallic film (16) to protect the metallic film (16) on the surface of the outer cover (9).

Abstract: An occupant restraint system having a knee airbag and an upper-body airbag. The control unit inflates only the knee airbag if the impact load applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value that is set larger than the first predetermined value, and inflates both the knee airbag and the upper-body airbag if the impact load is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value.

Abstract: Provided is an internal antenna device in such a form as a door handle for a smart entry system and an electronic key that can provide a metallic appearance similar to that of a metallic plating while avoiding a loss in the antenna output and ensuring a stable communication. A metallic thin film is deposited on a surface of an outer cover (9) that receives an antenna of the internal antenna device by sputtering. Cr (chromium) may be selected for the sputtering target, and the film thickness may be in the range of 0.05 ?m to 0.20 ?m to produce the appearance of a metallic surface. A double layer structure may be used by forming a coating consisting of acrylic urethane paint and having a thickness of 5 ?m to 50 ?m on the metallic film (16) to protect the metallic film (16) on the surface of the outer cover (9).

Abstract: An occupant restraint system having a knee airbag and an upper-body airbag. Control unit inflates only the knee airbag if the impact load applied to the vehicle due to a collision or the like is equal to or greater than the first predetermined value and less than the second predetermined value that is set larger than the first predetermined value, and inflates both the knee airbag and the upper-body airbag if the impact load is equal to or greater than the second predetermined value.

Abstract: There is provided an occupant protection apparatus which is comprised of a weight sensor which detects the physical quantity such as the weight relating to the physique of an occupant seated on a passenger seat; an ECU which determines the physique of the occupant according to the detected weight, and renders an air bag device for the passenger seat inoperative when determining that the occupant is a child having a physique equal to or smaller than a predetermined physique; and an air bag OFF lamp which is turned on to notify that the air bag device for the passenger seat is inoperative so as to prompt another occupant to take any occupant-protective measure other than the use of the air bag device.